Sam Darnold Dominates Prove-It Deal With Vikings – But Will He Stay Or Go Elsewhere?

The Minnesota Vikings are 11-2 heading into Week 15, and quarterback Sam Darnold is a big reason why.

Darnold, a former third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, began his career as a starter with four consecutive losing seasons with the Jets and the Panthers. He lost the starting job in Carolina to Baker Mayfield, traveled to San Francisco to back up Brock Purdy in 2023, and signed a one-year deal with the Vikings in 2024.

As a journeyman quarterback, Darnold had largely been limited by his inconsistency. In Minnesota, though, he’s putting up career margins in almost every stat – and it’s not close.

Darnold’s average completion percentage over the past six seasons is just under 60%; this year, it’s 68.4%. His quarterback rating has jumped over fifteen points from his second-best season, and he’s already far outpaced his next-best season in touchdowns, with 28.

Whether it’s head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s system or a great receiving corps, starting with the best wideout in the league, Justin Jefferson, it’s undeniable that Darnold has been fantastic in Minnesota. His performance might be worth four or five times the $10 million the Vikings are paying him this year. That poses another problem: can or should the Vikings keep him?

The team drafted University of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round just this year, and he might have started the season if not for an early knee injury. They can extend McCarthy’s current contract as long as four years, but it’s likely the team will want to see what they have with their young quarterback sooner rather than later. Add that onto the longer contract 27-year-old Darnold would likely look for, and the Vikings’ decision becomes difficult.

Meanwhile, there’s no shortage of potential suitors. The New York Giants have no clear number-one quarterback after releasing Daniel Jones earlier in the year, the Jets will be moving on from the Aaron Rodgers experiment, and the Browns, Raiders and Titans have their own quarterback struggles. Darnold could have a clear, long-term starting spot on any of those teams.

If the Vikings make a long playoff run, though, it will be difficult to let him go.

Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman argued for keeping Darnold, asking, “Why not do a potential bridge deal like Baker Mayfield [with the Buccaneers]? Three years, $100 million deal?”

Spielman noted that J.J. McCarthy has missed out on vital experience while rehabbing his knee, noting that the rookie may not be a week one starter next season. “He’s not practicing,” said Spielman, “So you’re starting from square one with him.”

Legendary Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, though, disagreed.

“It’s a part of the game that’s tough,” he told Fox News Digital. “You got to make decisions based on the salary cap and you’re paying [Justin Jefferson] $35 million. It’s really hard to pay the best receiver in football, who deserves every dime he’s got, and then turn around and pay a quarterback $40-plus million a year.”

That cap situation contributed to former franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins’ decision to leave for Atlanta, and it might come back to haunt the Vikings.

The season is still young, though, and it’s defied all expectations for Vikings fans. The time for making decisions isn’t quite impending – for now, at least, they can sit back and watch the Darnold Show.

“He’s proven the doubters wrong, and he’s proven that he can play in this league,” said Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. “Let’s just make this the best possible season we can have.”

Article by Katherine Manz